Rewrite this poem from the perspective of a woman that lives in a society that does not marginalize her voice, actions, progress, etc.
Post your poem to the course wiki:
Click the Edit tab in the upper-right corner.
Scroll down the page until you see the first empty space under "Participants' Poems."
Highlight the "Enter your name here." text and type your name.
Copy your poem text from the word processing document. Highlight the "Paste your poem here." text and paste your poem.
Press Save on the Editor bar.
Provide feedback to at least one of your peers. To comment:
Click the Edit tab in the upper-right corner.
Scroll down the page until you see the comment section under the poem you want to comment on.
Type your comments followed by your first name and last initial.
Press Save on the Editor bar.
Participants' Poems
Name: John Pahls
Poem: Privilege.......a poem
privilege is simple:
going for a pleasant stroll after dark,
not checking the back of your car as you get in, sleeping soundly,
speaking without interruption….these are ways of life to which we are all entitled….
dreams of love & care, that follow you all day, that wake you refreshed, and
privilege is seeing your honored, loved body
treated with dignity, privilege is going to the movies and seeing yourself empowered, respected and cared for
privilege is
riding your bicycle across town without being screamed at or
run off the road, taking off your shirt
on a hot day, in a crowd, not wishing to be anything other than what you are,
not having to shave your body, having a decent job with decent wages and
expecting to keep it, not being harassed by the boss,
dozing off on late-night buses, privilege
is being the hero in the TV show not the powerless crying one,
knowing your doctor won't assault you
Comments: John, I enjoyed the revision of the original poem you have created. It is very respectful to women --Beth Name: Beth Mowrey
Poem:
Female Privilege
privilege is going for a run with other athletes and feeling valued in the group walking to the car in a parking lot at night without fear of being viewed as a strong woman, a successful woman on the front cover across every magazine rack
privilege is going to the movies and seeing yourself portrayed as a powerful role model to females riding your bicycle across town and being waved at by friendly people from town. having a decent job and getting paid an equal salary to male peers
privilege is being treated with respect when facing police officers, lawyers, or judges not being taken advantage of by an auto mechanic and charged more than necessary being able to hold positions of office at all levels of life, from student council in high school to President of the US (someday!)
Comments: Beth: I like your poem, particularly how it addresses the empowerment to which all should have access. Hopefully we can all work towards a world that could be so. John Pahls Hi, Beth, I was just reading an article the other week about female models making more money than males. It is difficult to say how many professions can say this. If the talent is equal, there should not be a loss of income. Shawn
Hi Beth,
I liked how you related your privilege as being valued in a group of athletes. I think athletics is something people often compare between men and women and feeling valued in a group is very important. Libby Name: Marz
Poem: Privilege means to go for a walk at any time of the day or night without a fear of being assaulted.
It means sleeping well at night and dreaming about exciting things that new day will bring.
Privilege is going to the movies to see your intellect admired and appreciated.
It means to have a job that matches qualifications, getting promoted for hard work and monetary compensation that equals what male counterparts receive.
It also means to be admired and liked for who you are as a person, your gifts and ideas.
Privilege is being able to achieve whatever you dream to do, whether it is being a president or an artist. Going to school of your choice, university and to represent your country in any sport that you are passionate about.
To be equal before law because you are the same as any other human being and deserve the same respect and treatment.
Privilege is when all the above privileges are not privileges any more but just a part of an everyday life.
Comments: Marz, I like your last line the best......when the privileges are a part of everyday life. I think the original poem expressed these everyday ideas, and your poem presented it in a much more positive light. Katie Hi, Marz, I agree with Katie; your last line certainly can be considered 'the shot heard round the world'! Shawn Name: Katherine Marsh
Poem: privilege is simple: walking around wherever and whenever you want, and feeling safe happily looking in front of you, welcoming new obstacles to come sleeping peacefully, with dreams filled with peace and love privilege is seeing your body admired with its imperfections, tastefully displayed in the media going to the movies and seeing yourself strong, empowered, and celebrated privilege is feeling secure in your ton, and at work only dreaming of moving up the ladder, and shaking your boss's hand at the top trusting strangers and doctors alike to respect and care for you wearing whatever you like, confident that you will be appreciated and accepted being smiled at by passers by; men and women alike knowing your face will appear in the history books and yearbooks, smiling and intelligent privilege starting a conversation and knowing your ideas will be listened to, and valued privilege is simple: feeling safe and secure helping yourself and others to achieve their goals
Comments: Hi, Katie, helping others to achieve their goals really can encourage us all to be better individuals. Shawn - Katie, the line "seeing your body admired with its imperfections" really spoke to me. I am still in the process of learning to accept my body as it is, and for it to be admired by someone else with its imprefections would feel amazing I think. I really like how your poem flows and everything makes absolute sense. Lina Name: Enter your name here.
Poem: Paste your poem here.
Comments: Name: Abbey Juzwiak Poem: privilege is simple:
going out in the dark without fear or worry
walking back to your car without rushing to get inside and lock the door
not having to defend your decisions
crying without being thought of as fragile
laughing freely without being thought of as flighty
always being looked in the eye and not at your body
feeling that your body is valued for you as a person and not for the purpose of pleasing another
not shaving your legs
ability to believe the best in strangers
accepting help without fear of rape or harm
always feeling safe and secure
knowing you have the physical ability to protect your children
privilege is being seen for your strengths and not your weaknesses
Comments: Abbey my favourite lines in your poem are not having to defend your decisions and crying without being thought of as fragile. I feel that as women we often have to defend our decisions to study, to work, to remain single. Marz Hi, Abbey, one line that struck me was 'crying without being thought of as fragile.' The opposite could also be held against someone; if she is not emotional enough, that could be considered cold. It can be a fine line. Shawn
Name: Libby Pasquale
Poem: privilege is simple:
Being able to walk confidently down the street no matter what hour of the day.
privilege is having a flawed body and still being able to be proud of it. Seeing beautiful people of all shapes and sizes celebrated for who they are.
privilege is being the super hero in a movie for being a strong woman. It is being the hero for doing the right thing. It is being celebrated for having a brain and using it for good. It means not being the helpless girl who needs saving but the savior.
privilege is living your life the way you see fit and not being criticized for it.
Privilege is being able to not live by a double standard. It is wearing what you want without being called a slut.
Privilege is being able to get good grades at a great university. It is affording a nice apartment and being able to live there alone. It is getting a good job and moving up in the professional world. Most of all it is the ability to do all these things and not have someone say it was only "because of your looks" or that "you used your sexuality to get what you want." It is being able to be strong and independent.
I will be honest, I was a little confused about this assignment. If we are writing this from aperspective that we live in a place where women have a voice and can walk down the street safe, then I do not agree. I do not think I would ever walk down the street to my car at night without being on a phone and holding pepper spray. We may have more of a voice as women in the United States but by no means do we not have to worry about half of the things written in that poem.
Comments: Libby, I agree with you in that I would not feel particularly safe alone at night, however this exercise makes me feel grateful for the privileges I do have as a woman living in the U.S. -Amy Hi, Libby, you make valid points regarding how women should be viewed in society. What do you think causes trepidation about going to your car at night (without being on the phone or having pepper spray)? Shawn
Hi Shawn, At the risk of being too honest, the cause for my anxiety would be having a bad experience in the past with being attacked. From that experience I do not feel safe even in safe areas. The irony to this is that I have travelled since to less safe countries and felt safe. Maybe because it was a totally different environment? I do not know for sure Libby
Hi, Libby, I am sure a personal situation could cause anxiety. That makes sense for your trepidation. Shawn
Name: Amy
Poem: Privilege is:
going out in the community and feeling safe
sleeping soundly
sharing your voice
having a non-traumatic history
riding your bike across town without obstacles getting in your way
no life or death decisions
being taken seriously
Privilege is no pain, no terror.
Privilege is what you have, it's what I have
Privilege is simple
Comments: Hi, Amy, privilege should be simple. To feel safe and to share one's voice is truly a life worth living. Shawn Hi Amy. Privilege is simple and yet very complicated at times. I was reminding of this when my sister was in an abusive marriage. I like the line " a non-traumatic history". I wish this was a privilege given to everyone. I feel blessed to have one myself. -Abbey
Name: Lina
Poem: Privilege is simple:
it is going for a pleasant stroll at any time of day that I please, not having to constantly check the surrounding of my body, the vehicle of my life as I step onto the highway.
Privilege is speaking from my heart without being laughed at, and knowing more happy heart stories than broken heart stories. Privilege is not knowing what the taste of tears are. Privilege is looking at myself in the mirror and seeing only the smile and the twinkle in my eyes.
It is going to the movies alone and not feeling ashamed when someone asks: where is your husband, your wife, your lover?
Privilege is buying a top-of-the-line bike and sweating. Sweating out all the sadness that I carry on my shoulders, the world’s sadness is not only mine to carry.
Privilege is being the best friend in the TV show, not the jealous, crazy one.
And being loved, LOVED for the person inside, Not being looked at as a simple island girl, or being treated like a door mat.
It's simple really: Privilege means I am in charge of my own life, and not responsible for someone else's pain, someone else’s failures, someone else’s lost dreams.
Comments: Hi, Lina, your post emphasizes the need for each of us to responsible for our own life and living it to the best outcome that we can. Shawn
Name: Enter your name here.
Home > Activity 5-A-1: Male Privilege
Instructions:
Participants' Poems
Name: John Pahls
Poem: Privilege.......a poem
privilege is simple:
going for a pleasant stroll after dark,
not checking the back of your car as you get in, sleeping soundly,
speaking without interruption….these are ways of life to which we are all entitled….
dreams of love & care, that follow you all day, that wake you refreshed, and
privilege is seeing your honored, loved body
treated with dignity, privilege is going to the movies and seeing yourself empowered, respected and cared for
privilege is
riding your bicycle across town without being screamed at or
run off the road, taking off your shirt
on a hot day, in a crowd, not wishing to be anything other than what you are,
not having to shave your body, having a decent job with decent wages and
expecting to keep it, not being harassed by the boss,
dozing off on late-night buses, privilege
is being the hero in the TV show not the powerless crying one,
knowing your doctor won't assault you
Comments: John, I enjoyed the revision of the original poem you have created. It is very respectful to women --Beth
Name: Beth Mowrey
Poem:
Female Privilege
privilege is
going for a run with other athletes and feeling valued in the group
walking to the car in a parking lot at night without fear of being
viewed as a strong woman, a successful woman on the front cover across every magazine rack
privilege is
going to the movies and seeing yourself portrayed as a powerful role model to females
riding your bicycle across town and being waved at by friendly people from town.
having a decent job and getting paid an equal salary to male peers
privilege is
being treated with respect when facing police officers, lawyers, or judges
not being taken advantage of by an auto mechanic and charged more than necessary
being able to hold positions of office at all levels of life, from student council in high school to President of the US (someday!)
Comments: Beth: I like your poem, particularly how it addresses the empowerment to which all should have access. Hopefully we can all work towards a world that could be so. John Pahls
Hi, Beth, I was just reading an article the other week about female models making more money than males. It is difficult to say how many professions can say this. If the talent is equal, there should not be a loss of income. Shawn
Hi Beth,
I liked how you related your privilege as being valued in a group of athletes. I think athletics is something people often compare between men and women and feeling valued in a group is very important. Libby
Name: Marz
Poem:
Privilege means to go for a walk at any time of the day or night without a fear of being assaulted.
It means sleeping well at night and dreaming about exciting things that new day will bring.
Privilege is going to the movies to see your intellect admired and appreciated.
It means to have a job that matches qualifications, getting promoted for hard work and monetary compensation that equals what male counterparts receive.
It also means to be admired and liked for who you are as a person, your gifts and ideas.
Privilege is being able to achieve whatever you dream to do, whether it is being a president or an artist. Going to school of your choice, university and to represent your country in any sport that you are passionate about.
To be equal before law because you are the same as any other human being and deserve the same respect and treatment.
Privilege is when all the above privileges are not privileges any more but just a part of an everyday life.
Comments: Marz, I like your last line the best......when the privileges are a part of everyday life. I think the original poem expressed these everyday ideas, and your poem presented it in a much more positive light. Katie
Hi, Marz, I agree with Katie; your last line certainly can be considered 'the shot heard round the world'! Shawn
Name: Katherine Marsh
Poem:
privilege is simple:
walking around wherever and whenever you want, and feeling safe
happily looking in front of you, welcoming new obstacles to come
sleeping peacefully, with dreams filled with peace and love
privilege is
seeing your body admired with its imperfections, tastefully displayed in the media
going to the movies and seeing yourself strong, empowered, and celebrated
privilege is feeling secure in your ton, and at work
only dreaming of moving up the ladder, and shaking your boss's hand at the top
trusting strangers and doctors alike to respect and care for you
wearing whatever you like, confident that you will be appreciated and accepted
being smiled at by passers by; men and women alike
knowing your face will appear in the history books and yearbooks, smiling and intelligent
privilege starting a conversation and knowing your ideas will be listened to,
and valued
privilege is simple:
feeling safe and secure
helping yourself and others to achieve their goals
Comments: Hi, Katie, helping others to achieve their goals really can encourage us all to be better individuals. Shawn
- Katie, the line "seeing your body admired with its imperfections" really spoke to me. I am still in the process of learning to accept my body as it is, and for it to be admired by someone else with its imprefections would feel amazing I think. I really like how your poem flows and everything makes absolute sense. Lina
Name: Enter your name here.
Poem: Paste your poem here.
Comments:
Name: Abbey Juzwiak
Poem:
privilege is simple:
going out in the dark without fear or worry
walking back to your car without rushing to get inside and lock the door
not having to defend your decisions
crying without being thought of as fragile
laughing freely without being thought of as flighty
always being looked in the eye and not at your body
feeling that your body is valued for you as a person and not for the purpose of pleasing another
not shaving your legs
ability to believe the best in strangers
accepting help without fear of rape or harm
always feeling safe and secure
knowing you have the physical ability to protect your children
privilege is being seen for your strengths and not your weaknesses
Comments: Abbey my favourite lines in your poem are not having to defend your decisions and crying without being thought of as fragile. I feel that as women we often have to defend our decisions to study, to work, to remain single. Marz
Hi, Abbey, one line that struck me was 'crying without being thought of as fragile.' The opposite could also be held against someone; if she is not emotional enough, that could be considered cold. It can be a fine line. Shawn
Name: Libby Pasquale
Poem:
privilege is simple:
Being able to walk confidently down the street no matter what hour of the day.
privilege is having a flawed body and still being able to be proud of it. Seeing beautiful people of all shapes and sizes celebrated for who they are.
privilege is being the super hero in a movie for being a strong woman. It is being the hero for doing the right thing. It is being celebrated for having a brain and using it for good. It means not being the helpless girl who needs saving but the savior.
privilege is living your life the way you see fit and not being criticized for it.
Privilege is being able to not live by a double standard. It is wearing what you want without being called a slut.
Privilege is being able to get good grades at a great university. It is affording a nice apartment and being able to live there alone. It is getting a good job and moving up in the professional world. Most of all it is the ability to do all these things and not have someone say it was only "because of your looks" or that "you used your sexuality to get what you want." It is being able to be strong and independent.
I will be honest, I was a little confused about this assignment. If we are writing this from a perspective that we live in a place where women have a voice and can walk down the street safe, then I do not agree. I do not think I would ever walk down the street to my car at night without being on a phone and holding pepper spray. We may have more of a voice as women in the United States but by no means do we not have to worry about half of the things written in that poem.
Comments: Libby, I agree with you in that I would not feel particularly safe alone at night, however this exercise makes me feel grateful for the privileges I do have as a woman living in the U.S. -Amy
Hi, Libby, you make valid points regarding how women should be viewed in society. What do you think causes trepidation about going to your car at night (without being on the phone or having pepper spray)? Shawn
Hi Shawn,
At the risk of being too honest, the cause for my anxiety would be having a bad experience in the past with being attacked. From that experience I do not feel safe even in safe areas. The irony to this is that I have travelled since to less safe countries and felt safe. Maybe because it was a totally different environment? I do not know for sure
Libby
Hi, Libby, I am sure a personal situation could cause anxiety. That makes sense for your trepidation. Shawn
Name: Amy
Poem: Privilege is:
going out in the community and feeling safe
sleeping soundly
sharing your voice
having a non-traumatic history
riding your bike across town without obstacles getting in your way
no life or death decisions
being taken seriously
Privilege is no pain, no terror.
Privilege is what you have, it's what I have
Privilege is simple
Comments: Hi, Amy, privilege should be simple. To feel safe and to share one's voice is truly a life worth living. Shawn
Hi Amy. Privilege is simple and yet very complicated at times. I was reminding of this when my sister was in an abusive marriage. I like the line " a non-traumatic history". I wish this was a privilege given to everyone. I feel blessed to have one myself. -Abbey
Name: Lina
Poem: Privilege is simple:
it is going for a pleasant stroll at any time of day that I please, not having to constantly check the surrounding of my body, the vehicle of my life as I step onto the highway.
Privilege is speaking from my heart without being laughed at, and knowing more happy heart stories than broken heart stories.
Privilege is not knowing what the taste of tears are.
Privilege is looking at myself in the mirror and seeing only the smile and the twinkle in my eyes.
It is going to the movies alone and not feeling ashamed when someone asks: where is your husband, your wife, your lover?
Privilege is buying a top-of-the-line bike and sweating. Sweating out all the sadness that I carry on my shoulders, the world’s sadness is not only mine to carry.
Privilege is being the best friend in the TV show, not the jealous, crazy one.
And being loved, LOVED for the person inside,
Not being looked at as a simple island girl, or being treated like a door mat.
It's simple really: Privilege means I am in charge of my own life, and not responsible for someone else's pain, someone else’s failures, someone else’s lost dreams.
Comments: Hi, Lina, your post emphasizes the need for each of us to responsible for our own life and living it to the best outcome that we can. Shawn
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